Songwriter Hall of Fame inductees named

NEW YORK, March 19 (UPI) -- Jackson Browne, already a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Monday led a sextuplet of tunesmiths to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York.

Besides Browne, the Hall will honor Don Black, Irving Burgie, Michael Masser, Bobby Weinstein and the late Teddy Randazzo at its event June 7, Hall Chairman Hal David said in a release. Special award honorees will be announced later.

Browne, the singer-songwriter who epitomized the Southern California sound of the 1970s, is best known for songs like "Running On Empty," "Doctor My Eyes" and "The Pretender."

Black wrote "Ben" for Michael Jackson but is best known for his movie themes "To Sir With Love" and "Born Free."

Burgie is regarded as one of the greatest Caribbean music composers. Thirty-five songs were recorded by Harry Belafonte, including "Day-O."

Masser's first hit was "Touch Me in the Morning," made famous by Diana Ross in 1973, and also wrote "The Greatest Love Of All" and "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love."

Weinstein and Randazzo, who died in 2003, wrote "Goin' Out of My Head" and "Hurt So Bad," hits for Little Anthony & the Imperials.